HOUSE OVERSIGHT 013419 Local News: West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Martin & St. Lucie Counties I The Palm Beach Post 4/6/11 1:50 PM NEWS BRAdviAN_ MOTORCARS m nrAcir Porsche BRAMAN DIFFERENCE CillefLA I EXPERIENCE THE Mini BMW Audi Subscribe Now Renew E-POST I JOBS I AUTOS I REAL ESTATE I CLASSIFIEDS I PLACE AN AD I — I WEATHER I SPORTS I MONEY I OBITUARIES I OPINION I LIVING I ENTERTAINMENT I PHOTOS I VIDEOS I LocalNews _ _ Greater Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast Judge: Palm Beach sex offender Jeffrey Epstein agreement to remain sealed By MICHELE DARGAN Palm Beach Daily News Staff Writer Tuesday, February 17, 2009 A federal judge has ruled that a non-prosecution document under which the government agreed not to pursue federal charges against sex offender Jeffrey Epstein will remain under seal - at least for now. The U.S. Attorney's Office and Epstein's lawyers reached the agreement before Epstein pleaded guilty to state felony charges, and the document is under seal in Epstein's state criminal file. Representing two of Epstein's victims, attorney Brad Edwards asked to have the document unsealed as part of his federal lawsuit against the Manhattan money manager. Although Edwards and his victims have seen the agreement, Edwards says in his pleadings that the government has "inaccurately described the agreement ... creating a false impression that the agreement protects the victims." U.S. District Judge Kenneth Marra ruled that the claims, even if true, haven't damaged Edwards' case. "If and when such alleged mischaracterizations become relevant to an issue to be decided by the court, the parties will be given the opportunity to advance their positions and the court will resolve the issue," he wrote. "If disclosure of the agreement will be required for the court to resolve this issue, appropriate disclosure will be ordered." Seeking to keep the agreement sealed, Assistant U.S. Attorney Dexter Lee argued that the agreement is not p